Poinsettia plant named ‘Dueimviking’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named ‘Dueimviking’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; early flowering habit; inflorescences with dark red-colored flower bracts; and excellent post-production longevity.

Botanical designation: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Dueimviking’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPoinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd., andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dueimviking’.

The new Poinsettia is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram is to create new vigorous Poinsettia cultivars with attractiveflower bract coloration.

The new Poinsettia originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor on May 1, 2002 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selectionof Euphorbia pulcherrima Wilid. identified as code number E16-016, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofEuphorbia pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number 99-2169-5, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Poinsettia wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from withinthe progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Rheinberg, Germany on Dec. 1, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Poinsettia by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germanysince Dec. 1, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this newPoinsettia are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Poinsettia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dueimviking’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Dueimviking’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofPoinsettia:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Early flowering habit.    -   4. Inflorescences with dark red-colored flower bracts.    -   5. Excellent post-production longevity.

Plants of the new Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in growth habit as plants of the new Poinsettia aremore vigorous than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in branching habit as plants of the new Poinsettia aremore freely branching than plants of the male parent selection.Additionally, plants of the new Poinsettia have larger flower bractsthan plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can be compared to plants of Euphorbiapulcherrima Willd. ‘Dueuroglory’, not patented. In side-by-side sidecomparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the newPoinsettia differed primarily from plants of ‘Dueuroglory’ in growthhabit as plants of the new Poinsettia were more compact than plants of‘Dueuroglory’. Additionally, plants of the new Poinsettia floweredearlier than plants of ‘Dueuroglory’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Poinsettia. The photograph shows the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Poinsettia. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dueimviking’ grown ina container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Rheinberg, Germany during thewinter in a glass-covered greenhouse and under conditions and practiceswhich approximate those generally used in commercial Poinsettiaproduction. During the production of the plants, day and nighttemperatures averaged 22° C. and light levels were about 4,500 lux.Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typicalflowering plants. Single plants were grown in 13-cm containers and werepinched one time five weeks after planting the cuttings. Plants werefour months from planting when the photograph and the detaileddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Euphorbia pulcherrima Wilid.    ‘Dueimviking’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Euphorbia            pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number E-16-016, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Euphorbia            pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number 99-2169-5, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About nine days at 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 13 days at 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at 22° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit and form.—Upright and outwardly spreading plant            habit; inverted triangle. Inflorescences positioned above            the foliar plane. Moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 22 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 31 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Quantity: Freely branching            habit, about six lateral branches develop after pinching.            Length: About 17 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length:            About 2 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Close to 137A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 11.4 cm. Width: About 6.8 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:            Apiculate. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Lobed; dentate. Venation            pattern: Pinnate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Developing foliage, upper surface: Close to            141A to 141B. Developing foliage, lower surface: Close to            138A. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Close to 139A;            venation, close to 146C. Fully expanded foliage, lower            surface: Close to 138A; venation, close to 144A. Petiole:            Length: About 5.7 cm. Diameter: About 2.6 mm. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 187B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Inflorescences are compound            corymbs of cyathia with colored flower bracts subtending the            cyathia. One inflorescence per lateral branch. Flowers are            not fragrant. Flowers persistent. Inflorescences positioned            above the foliage.        -   Natural flowering season.—Autumn/winter; inflorescence            initiation and development is induced under long nyctoperiod            conditions. Early flowering, response time is about eight            weeks.        -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production            longevity; plants of the new Poinsettia maintain good            substance and bract color for about nine weeks under            interior conditions.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 21 cm. Height (depth):            About 4 cm.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 17. Length:            About 9.8 cm. Width: About 6.8 cm. Shape: Ovate; slightly            lobed. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Obtuse. Margin: entire;            slightly lobed. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous;            rugose. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing and            transitional bracts, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 46A.            Fully developed bracts, upper surface: Close to 46B; color            becoming closer to 46C with development. Fully developed            bracts, lower surface: Close to 46C. Venation, upper and            lower surfaces: Similar to flower bract color. Bract            petiole: Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 187C.        -   Cyathia.—Quantity per corymb: About ten. Diameter of cyathia            cluster: About 2 cm. Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 6 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color, immature: Close to 144B. Color, mature:            Close to 144A. Nectaries: Quantity per cyathium: One or two.            Diameter: About 4 mm. Color: Close to 17A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong to moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per cyathium:            About 20. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 0.5 mm.            Anther color: Close to 26B. Amount of pollen: Abundant.            Pollen color: Close to 9A. Pistils: Quantity per cyathium:            One. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Style length: About 2 mm.            Style color: Close to 144B. Stigma shape: Crested. Stigma            color: Close to 53A. Ovary color: Close to 144A. Seed/fruit:            Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Poinsettia have not been    shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Poinsettias.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Poinsettia have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 12° C. to about    40° C.

1. A new and distinct Poinsettia plant named ‘Dueimviking’ asillustrated and described.